Chapter 533: Roger Pirates Gather
"Jihahahaha! It's just like you, Roger!"
"To think you're still alive after that."
Shiki laughed excitedly.
Shiki had originally planned to accept the fact that his old rival had sacrificed himself, but unexpectedly, news suddenly spread that the Roger Pirates hadn't been destroyed.
One by one, members of the Roger Pirates were discovered or revealed themselves.
Only after it was truly confirmed that Roger was still alive did Shiki enjoy his meals much more.
Roger doesn't have much time left; he can no longer compete with him, nor will he.
But what's the point of the Great Sea without Roger?
"What a trouble."
"Why couldn't he just die quietly? Why bother giving this Old Man more trouble?"
On Dragon Island, "Tyrant Dragon" Zak looked at Kozuki Oden's figure in the newspaper and said impatiently.
For him, Kozuki Oden was a trouble, a threat to his rule over Dragon Island.
Furthermore, Wano Country has now been destroyed, with only a small portion of Residents barely surviving.
Although this was the doing of the Kurozumi Clan and the World Government.
But no matter what, in Kozuki Oden's eyes, he couldn't escape blame.
Would Kozuki Oden believe any so-called explanation?
Besides, Zak disdained to explain.
Now that Wano Country has essentially fallen, its severely weakened strength, even with Kozuki Oden, is not enough to make Zak feel apprehensive.
After all, in the past, what could threaten the Tyrant Dragon Pirates was Wano Country's powerful overall national strength and its large number of Strongmen.
Over the years, Wano Country has continuously weakened, while the Tyrant Dragon Pirates have steadily grown stronger.
The Tyrant Dragon Pirates had always known about Wano Country's plight.
And they had been secretly fanning the flames.
Blockading the borders, strictly prohibiting the transport of supplies.
Letting the Residents of Wano Country fend for themselves.
As an indigenous land, Wano Country was a thorn in the side of the Tyrant Dragon Pirates; even though it was no longer a threat, Zak still wanted to clear out its remnants.
Originally, the downfall of the Roger Pirates was a good thing for the Tyrant Dragon Pirates as a whole.
Kozuki Oden's death meant that Zak could clear out the remaining strength of Wano Country without restraint.
Otherwise, as a crewmate of the Roger Pirates, under the deterrence of the Roger Pirates, the Tyrant Dragon Pirates had always been hesitant to act.
Now, with Kozuki Oden still alive and the Roger Pirates still intact, it was undeniably frustrating for Zak.
The Oro Jackson was voyaging on The Great Sea, rapidly approaching the island that had already appeared ahead.
The crewmates of the Roger Pirates gathered on the deck, looking at the distant island with faces full of expectation.
Buggy stood atop the mast, looking at the island's coast with a telescope, hoping to see the figure he was expecting.
Finally, Buggy saw him.
His captain, Roger, was standing on the island's shore, smiling and waving his hands at them.
"Companions! I see the captain!"
Unable to hide his excitement, Buggy shouted down, eager to deliver the good news.
"Really?"
"Where?"
"Give me the telescope, let me see."
"It's been so long since we've seen the captain's figure."
Someone exclaimed.
Having gone through life and death, although it had only been a little over a month, it felt like a very long time to all the crewmates of the Roger Pirates.
As if they hadn't seen each other for a year or two.
On the other side, on the island's coast.
Carrying a pack, Roger looked slightly disheveled, but it still couldn't hide his heroic spirit.
Many residents and pirates around were looking at Roger's figure.
Especially the pirates, most had looks of reverence, though naturally there were also ambitious young pirates.
Looking at Roger with the thought of replacing him.
After all, Roger was a legendary pirate standing at the peak of the Great Sea today, a living legend.
On The Great Sea, they might only encounter him once in their lifetime.
If they didn't seize the chance to see him now, they might not get another opportunity later.
The news that "demon" Roger was on this island had spread, and many people had specifically rushed over to see Roger.
As the news of many crewmates spread.
The Oro Jackson came from the deep sea to The Great Sea.
Sambell's original planned gathering point had changed.
The Oro Jackson was their gathering place.
Therefore, based on the intelligence they possessed, the Oro Jackson voyaged around on The Great Sea, arriving at the islands where the scattered crewmates were located in the New World, and bringing them aboard the ship.
For this purpose, the locations of many crewmates, including Roger, Gaban, and Rayleigh, had already spread across the Great Sea, also indicating the direction for the Oro Jackson's voyage.
Although the scattered crewmates mostly acted alone.
Yet each of them was a powerful combatant capable of standing on their own on The Great Sea.
On The Great Sea, there was no shortage of pirates who wanted to use them as stepping stones to make a name for themselves.
Without exception, unless a Top Power made a move.
All challengers were mercilessly defeated.
After a period of voyage, crewmates whose locations had been confirmed, such as Gaban, Rayleigh, and Kozuki Oden, were successively picked up by the Oro Jackson.
By now, only Roger remained to board the ship of the Roger Pirates.
Once Roger boarded the ship, it would signify that the Roger Pirates had truly gathered.
As for the few crewmates from whom there was no news, the crewmates of the Roger Pirates were well aware of their fate.
They had perished, buried in the deep sea whirlpool.
Some crewmates were already near death, persisting through sheer willpower, and had no strength to resist the terrifying deep sea whirlpool.
The Oro Jackson continued to approach.
Soon, both sides could see one another's figures.
The Oro Jackson docked at the shore.
Many crewmates from the Roger Pirates quickly jumped off the ship, with Buggy, the fastest, running directly over and hugging Roger's leg.
Seeing the captain's long-unseen face, Buggy's tears of excitement couldn't stop flowing.
"Captain Roger!"
"I truly, truly thought I would never see you again."
Seeing this scene, some crewmates who had rushed over behind them couldn't help but get teary-eyed while feeling happy.
Even Rayleigh was the same, taking off his glasses and wiping the corner of his eyes.
At that time, he had thought he was the only one who survived.
He calmed his emotions.
Roger looked at the companions gathered around him.
Compared to the past, many familiar figures were no longer there; they had either died on the battlefield or been devoured by the deep sea whirlpool.
The price they paid to survive this ordeal was too great.
Originally, they had over fifty crewmates, but now fewer than thirty remained.
He took a deep breath.
"Companions! Welcome home!"
"Our voyage must continue. Let's carry on, taking their share with us!"
(end of chapter)